My Panchakarma Experience at SoHum Mountain Healing Resort
Autumn is the time we start thinking about Ayurveda’s recommendations for a seasonal cleanse. Come along with me, as I tell you about my cleanse last spring, when I traveled to Asheville, North Carolina, to undergo a 7-day panchakarma retreat at Dr. Vasant Lad’s new center, SoHum Mountain Healing Resort. I hope to inspire you to get on board for your own deep healing in this season (don’t miss the discount code at the end of this blog!).
Nestled in a stunning mountain landscape, the days were warm and bright while the nights turned cold—but there are fireplaces in the rooms - a total highlight for me! Each day was gently structured with treatments, rest, and practice. I had regular meetings before and during the week with my practitioner, which provided steady guidance and reassurance, and a truly kind staff was present throughout to support the process. The treatments I enjoyed included abhyanga-shirodhara—warm oil poured over the body and head—as well as a deep nasya therapy with a warm poultice to support my respiratory system, which has taken a long time to recover after an illness in Europe. These therapies soothed my nervous system while helping me feel deeply reconnected to my body.
It had been less than six months since losing my dad, and this experience became an opportunity to process grief in a truly embodied way. Panchakarma isn’t just about clearing the body—it creates the conditions for the heart and mind to release what has been held. With the support of my fellow participants, I was able to share openly, and our family-style meals each day became a place of connection. Herbal teas and kitchari were available anytime, offering simple nourishment and a sense of being cared for. Chef Sean is an inspiration!
I’ve been through probably six extended Panchakarmas over the years, and every time, the issue I seek healing for is resolved—sometimes it takes two treatments over two years, but the shifts are real and lasting. Some days feel light and joyous, others tender and raw. Ayurveda teaches that undigested emotions lodge in the body, and during treatment, they are given the chance to move and release.
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my posts about the process—from my ghee-licious home prep to my arrival at SoHum, but what stays with me most from my time at SoHum is not only the physical reset, but the emotional and spiritual clarity I carried home. Panchakarma is a sacred process of remembering what it feels like to live in rhythm with nature’s intelligence. For me, it was a time of healing, community, and reconnection—with my body, my grief, and my devotion to Ayurveda.
If you can carve out 7 days to experience Panchakarma, especially in a place as intentional and beautiful as SoHum, I wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s not just a cleanse—it’s a path to self-realization. My friends at SoHhum are generously offering a $500 discount when you book a panchakarma retreat and mention code KATEPK2025. If you go, please let me know how it was!
with love,
Kate
